Join a Learning Community at Barry University

Joining a learning community is an opportunity for you to enhance your educational experience and expand
your knowledge and professional skills within your degree program. Our learning communities are a joint
effort between our academic programs, Housing and Residence Life, and the Center for Student Involvement.

Being Part of a Learning Community

Belonging to a learning community ensures a smooth transition to Barry life. Not only will you get
to
know your fellow peers quickly, but you will also have the opportunity to live together, attend the
same classes, and network with faculty, staff, and alumni with similar personal and professional interests.

Advantages of a Learning Community

The following benefits will provide you with greater satisfaction and academic success while at Barry
University:

Events to enhance your education and expand your knowledge and skill set

Increased access to faculty and staff, and supportive study groups

Exposure to degree related speakers and events

Introduction to the academic support resources available on campus

Support from your Resident Assistants if you are living on campus

Mentoring opportunities with faculty, staff and alumni

Barry students report that the learning community helped them make friends, form study groups, be more
successful in their courses, interact more closely with their faculty, and become more aware of university
and departmental resources.

First - Year Learning Communities

We currently offer three communities within the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business,
and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences that includes a partnership with the College of Arts
Sciences. As we continue to create communities within the colleges and schools across campus, we will
advertise these communities as they come available.

College of Arts and Sciences

Careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)

To confront many of the complex, global problems facing us today such as: emerging diseases, energy
sustainability,
and climate change, highly trained individuals will be required to use interdisciplinary and diverse
approaches. Careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) will play a crucial role
to address these and other problems.

The College of Arts and Sciences is offering first year students interested in STEM, the opportunity
to participate in a STEM living and learning community (CAS-STEM) To help you to meet your goal of becoming
a professional in a STEM field. As part of this community of STEM scholars, you will take courses in
Biology, Chemistry and Math with other motivated and like-minded students and have close, interactions
with faculty and peers that will enhance your college experience. You will participate in special
sections of freshman orientation that will help you transition to college life, while introducing you
to many careers options and opportunities that exist in STEM disciplines though activities such as field
trips, guest speakers and designated readings. Residence Life has designated residence hall space for
the CAS-STEM students and selected a residential assistant, who is also in a STEM discipline and will
serve as a peer mentor, to coordinate this community with the faculty and staff. Come see what CAS-STEM
has to offer you; but hurry, spaces are limited!

For more information about this learning community, please contact Dr. Sanja Zivanocovic at SZivanovic@barry.edu

Honors Program

The Honors Program Living and Learning Community (HP-LLC) fosters the student-faculty as well as peer
interaction and learning about on and off-campus community. As part of the HON 199 H1 First-Year Experience
Seminar course requirements, each student will pair with one HP-LLC faculty mentor and one upper-class
Honors Program (HP) peer to discover the student’s academic and personal interests. By being more comfortable
talking with faculty and collaborating with peers, the students will increase class participation, motivation,
and ownership in the learning process. By pairing with an HP peer, students will build intellectual
community by forming student friendship, working collaboratively on campus wide projects, and joining
on campus student clubs.

Through class participation, designing and delivering the first-year Honors Program Colloquium, and
creating
a learning portfolio, students will experience how to create and maintain a strong community, engage
in critical thinking, collaborate with others, and live in community effectively. In response to the
Common Reader and in conjunction with PHI 191 H1 and THE 201 H1 classes, students will choose a theme
for their First-Year Honors Program Colloquium and invite guest panelists to discuss topics related
to social justice.

Through a variety of the course requirements, HP-LLC students will a) integrate and apply curricular
and co-curricular experiences, b) have a sense of belonging with the university community, develop
networks of peers with similar personal and career interests, c) inquire into areas of personal and
academic interest in ways that are designed to be helpful in settling on a major and in taking the first
steps toward a calling or career, and d) have an appreciation for diversity in people and experiences.

For more information about this learning community, please contact Dr. Sirimangkala at psirimangkala@barry.edu or call 305-899-3453

Fall Semester Courses

PHI 191-H1, Judeo-Christian Doctrine (3 credits)

THE 201-H1, Theology: Faith, Beliefs and Traditions (3 credits)

Transitions: Live Communally - Learn Collaboratively

Start your Barry education off strong in the College of Arts & Science's Learning Community. This community
offers a built-in community of peers and an innovative, integrated curriculum. You’ll share a living
space and classroom time with a team of similarly engaged students. You’ll take special-designed courses
- in writing, thinking, and learning effectively - to help you make a successful transition to college
life. Whether you’re nervous about the rigors of college or interested in learning collaboratively,
this learning community offers a unique opportunity to get a head start on building your life at Barry
University.

As part of your course schedule, you will enroll in the following five courses based on the theme -Transitions. Three of the courses will be offered in the fall semester and two in the spring
semester.
The remainder of your course schedule will be completed with the assistance of your academic advisor.

Fall Semester Courses

ORI 100, First-Year Experience Seminar (1 credit)

PHI 220, Introduction to Philosophy (3 credits)

ENG 111, First-Year Composition & Literature (3 credits)

Spring Semester Courses

SOC 200, Perspective Consciousness and Social Justice (3 credits)

THE 201, Theology: Faith, Beliefs and Traditions (3 credits)

For more information about this learning community, please contact Dr. Ruth Tallman at RTallman@barry.edu or call 305-899-4091.

School of Business

Business Connections

In the Business Connections community, students visit corporate sites, hear successful business professionals
speak about their careers, attend great lectures, and study together. As part of your course schedule,
you will be enrolled in the three courses listed below with your fellow learning community peers. The
remainder of your course schedule will be completed with your academic advisor.

Fall Semester Courses

ORI 100, First-Year Experience Seminar (1 credit)

BUS 181, Introduction to Business (3 credits)

ECO 201, Principles of Macroeconomics (3 credits)

In order to join, you must be a first-year, full-time student within the School of Business.

For more information about this learning community, please contact Orlando Baretto at OBarreto@barry.edu.

College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Pre-Nursing

As part of your course schedule, you will be enrolled in the following four courses with your fellow
learning community peers. The remainder of your course schedule will be completed with your academic
advisor:

ORI 100, First-Year Experience Seminar (1 credit)

BIO 220, Introduction to Human Anatomy (3 credits)

BIO 220L, Introduction to Human Anatomy Lab (1 credit)

ENG 095 – English Comp Strategies (3 credits)

In order to join, you must be a first-year, full-time student within pre-nursing.

For more information about this learning community, please contact Karen Mile at Rkmiles@barry.edu.

Sign Up for Your Community

Each learning community has limited spaces available. If you are interested in joining, please contact
Dr. Ruth Tallman at rtallman@barry.edu or 305-899-4091. There
are no additional costs to join a learning community. Exploring your interests and making new friends
are big parts of the college experience. We hope you will consider participating.

Exploring your interests and making new friends are big parts of the college experience. We hope you
will consider participating.